Thousands of protesters have gathered in the heart of Sydney to demand immediate climate action as bushfires continue to burn across the state.
The activists donned smoke masks and displayed creative signs as they flocked to Town Hall for the climate emergency rally at 5.30pm on Wednesday.
The protesters have declared a climate emergency in New South Wales, with unprecedented bushfires ravaging the state and Sydney being infiltrated by toxic smoke.
The group, who need to navigate around Sydney’s Light Rail test runs on George Street, will march down Park Street and to Hyde Park.
One activist dressed up dressed up as a koala and carried plush toys of the native animal alongside a banner reading ‘homeless’.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was compared to The Grinch as bushfires and smoke riddle New South Wales and Sydney ahead of Christmas
‘It’s not ok boomer,’ read one colourful sign as thousands of protesters gathered for a climate emergency rally in Sydney
A meme shows the Liberal Party’s headquarters on fire, while referring to Scott Morrison’s comment about ‘thoughts and prayers’ for victims of the bushfires
A group of protesters are pictured travelling to the climate emergency rally in Sydney’s CBD on Wednesday
Thousands of protesters have gathered in the heart of Sydney to demand immediate climate action as bushfires continue to burn across the state
The protesters have declared a climate emergency in New South Wales, with unprecedented bushfires ravaging the state and Sydney being infiltrated by toxic smoke
One protester displays a sign of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, alternating his nickname ‘Scomo’ to ‘Smoko’
One activist dressed up dressed up as a koala and carried a number of plush toys of the native animal with a banner reading ‘homeless’
One activist urged others to direct message Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Instagram to help Australians and animals affected by the bushfires
While some koalas have been rescued from the blazes, it’s believed about 2000 have died in the bushfires.
A number of posters were directed at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling on the leader to ‘do something’ about the bushfire crisis.
Sydney has endured weeks bathed in toxic smoke, with a thick haze gathering in the harbour city from the bushfires.
A blanket of ‘unbreathable’ smoke shrouded NSW on Tuesday as temperatures soared past 40C and firefighters battled to control potentially lethal conditions before a southerly change saw the mercury plummet.
Authorities say Tuesday’s air quality in Sydney was among the worst recorded. Smoke across the region was so thick at one point it was 11 times poorer than typically hazardous levels in some suburbs.
Protesters wore P2 masks for the rally and used posters to comment on the lingering smoke haze and disappearance of blue skies.
A group of pregnant women protested for their children’s futures, with ‘it’s getting hot in here’ written across their bumps
A group of protesters are seen in smoke masks, commenting on Sydney’s toxic smoke over the last few weeks
‘All I want for Christmas is Blue!’ one sign read with an image of the iconic Sydney Harbour which has barely been visible in recent weeks
The protesters are demanding no new coal, oil and gas projects, 100 per cent publicly owned renewable energy generation and exports by 2030 and job transition for all fossil-fuel workers
A number of posters were directed at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling on the leader to ‘do something’ about the bushfire crisis
‘I am into being choked just not by smoke,’ one cheeky sign about the Sydney’s debilitating air quality read
‘Slomo wake up and smell the fires,’ one protester said as New South Wales continues to battle blazes
‘Never thought I’d have to fight for my right to breathe,’ one sign said.
‘All I want for Christmas is blue,’ read another sign with a picture of Sydney Harbour.
More than 720 homes have been destroyed over the fire season so far.
‘Unfortunately the number of homes destroyed in this fire season continues to rise – now 724 homes confirmed lost. 2.7 million hectares burnt,’ RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said on Twitter on Wednesday.
‘Burn in hell Scomo,’ read one brazen sign about the Prime Minister during Wednesday’s rally
Police control the crowds outside Town Hall to make sure they don’t get in the way of the Light Rail tests on George Street
A statue outside Town Hall was covered with a smoke mask, as protesters demand action on Sydney’s toxic air quality
A danger scale used to describe the bushfire threat shows the climate change danger is ‘catastrophic’
Air quality was on Wednesday morning deemed ‘hazardous’ across Sydney’s east, southwest and northwest, despite improved visibility.
The Bureau of Meteorology says although conditions have eased, the smoke will continue to linger over the next few days.
‘We are expecting (the smoke) to continue over the next few days … with fires to the southwest and north of Sydney, we need easterly winds to help ease the smoke,’ a BOM forecaster told AAP.
The group, who need to navigate around Sydney’s Light Rail test runs on George Street, will march down Park Street and to Hyde Park
‘The kids aren’t the only things well lit,’ one poster said in reference to the NSW bushfires
About 10,000 people said they would attend the ‘NSW is Burning, Sydney is Choking – Climate Emergency Rally!’ on Facebook
One protester took aim at Israel Folau, who made controversial comments about the bushfires and same sex marriage
Total fire bans are in place on Wednesday for northwestern NSW, the northern slopes and the central ranges.
The rally, named ‘NSW is Burning, Sydney is Choking – Climate Emergency Rally!’ on Facebook, was organised by Extinction Rebellion, Greens MP David Shoebridge and Uni Students for Climate Change.
The protest event description reads: ‘For year after year governments have denied the approaching climate emergency and expanded the fossil fuel industry while cutting funding to fire and other essential services and mismanaging vital river and water systems.’
‘Now the result is here: unprecedented drought, bushfires, and now a massive health crisis, with millions choking, with no escape, and severe consequences for people’s immediate and long term health.’
The group are demanding no new coal, oil and gas projects, 100 per cent publicly owned renewable energy generation and exports by 2030 and job transition for all fossil-fuel workers.
They are also calling for the government to reverse the funding cuts to RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue and to address the toxic smoke.
Protesters also calling for the government to reverse the funding cuts to RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue and to address the toxic smoke
One protester painted NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian butchering a koala for the rally